The Society of Asian Lawyers (SAL) has threatened to withdraw its support for the Law Society’s diversity charter, amid fears it will be watered down.

The scheme, initiated by SAL and supported by BT, is modelled on a project in the US. It aims to encourage FTSE 100 companies to put economic pressure on law firms by employing only those meeting diversity criteria.

However, after a meeting with stakeholders, SAL chairman Sundeep Bhatia said he was concerned that the charter may become diluted: ‘If the Law Society were to water down the document too much we would have to consider severing ties with the Society on this project and working with other partners who are truly committed to the cause of diversity.’

SAL also wants regular scrutiny and monitoring of whether companies are complying with the charter.

Stephen Ward, the Law Society’s equality and diversity champion, said: ‘All the comments made by SAL at a meeting last week have been taken into account in the preparation of a new version of the charter.’